There were parts of New York on our plate and bits of angel in our bowl, and yet our meal at Di Napoli was neither bright, nor heavenly. New at Nariman Point, this Italian restaurant where the angel hair pasta was underwhelming and the New York cheesecake was overpriced, a few tweaks would go a long way in making it a popular lunch spot in an office area that suffers from much cross-border culinary envy.

Red Foreman

Di Napoli has a great afternoon space with plenty of light, an open kitchen and shiny red tiles. It’s the kind of set-up that says you can stop by for a pizza with colleagues, it’ll be quick if you like, but we won’t rush you.

We settled at a table and scanned the menu that features salads, soup, pizza, pasta and dessert. Considering all the talk of imported ovens and yum  dough recipes, we decided to order two pies – the basic regina margherita and pesto chicken. There’s even a butter chicken pizza that we thought we would try for you, but it wasn’t available the day we visited. The pies arrived with a nice, dusty dough (the kind we love at Mia Cucina) and a chatty chef who spoke of all the places he worked at while in Canada, including an Italian joint.

Carbonara Footprint

The pizza that came slathered with pesto instead of tomato sauce was flavourful with just the right amount of bitter, holding up chunks of chicken. The margherita on the other hand was not great, with too-little sauce and a little too much olive oil for our liking. The angel hair pasta in a creamy Alfredo sauce, slightly eggy with a generous amount of parmesan, was tasty but nothing we’d go back for.

We ended with the New York style baked lemon cheesecake, which was dense and zesty, but at Rs 220 for a tiny square piece, it seemed a bit steep. In fact, the prices in general, with our pasta costing about Rs 300 and pizza, Rs 585, could do with some lowering. And the service could be crisper but we suppose that’s all part of teething issues. We hope.

 Naples Slip

Here's the thing: when you come in for a quick work lunch, you want it to be nice and cheap. Even if it’s an angel you’re spooning. Halo, can we speak with the feedback department, please?

Getting there: Di Napoli, Dalamal Towers, ground floor, Free Press Journal Marg, Nariman Point, Rs 2,500 for a meal for three without alcohol.

bpb reviews anonymously and pays for its own meals.